Posted on 02/28/2010 4:05:12 PM PST by Salvation
There is one-- just one-- health-care reform proposal currently under discussion in Washington. Not two. One.
Republicans don't have the votes to pass the sort of proposal they would prefer. Democrats will defer to the President. So right now President Obama's proposal is the only viable option. If you're talking about health-care reform on Capitol Hill this week, you're talking about the Obama plan.
With that background information in mind, will someone please explain to me why the US bishops' conference has issued another call for health-care reform?
Yes, the bishops' letter pleads for a pro-life approach to reform. But they make that plea in the abstract, at a time when the push has begun for passage of a very concrete proposal. Everyone already knows that the bishops don't want abortion subsidies included in the legislation. Nevertheless the Obama plan includes abortion subsidies. So the key question is: Will the bishop oppose this bill?
On that question-- the only question that's being asked, really-- the bishops' letter is silent. They do not address the Obama plan directly. They could have said that they support health-care reform in general, but oppose this specific plan. They didn't say that.
So this week, as the White House revs up the bulldozer, announcing plans to ram home this bill, the USCCB announces support for health-care reform. The President wants this bill passed; the bishops want a bill passed. The distinction is bound to be lost in the heat of political battle.
The question this week is not: Do you want some sort of health-care reform? The question is: Do you want this specific legislation? The bishops have responded to the first question, when everyone is asking the second.
The net result: President Obama says that we must pass health-care reform legislation, and the USCCB echoes that we must pass health-care reform legislation. It sure looks as if the bishops are endorsing the Obama plan. If that wasn't their intent, why issue their statement now?
**Better yet, the bishops need to shut their yaps!**
Not a bad idea either.
Is it the bishops or the idiots in the Washington office. Big difference. We should be contacting the bishops to clean that particular house before they make any more of a mess.
I haven’t lost faith, as you put it. The actions of other Catholics (many of those who run the worldly institution) are the ones who lost me as an institutional Catholic.
You mean Cardinal Mahoney?
It is the Catholic Church who lost many of its “faithful” along the way. We have faith. The “leaders” are the ones who need to contact with Scripture.
Following those who are lost is one fast way to become lost oneself.
Have hope!
Thanks for posting.
“an institutional Catholic”
that Jesus started. You still need to go to Mass each week, and you don’t have to agree with every single bishop on every single thing to do that.
btw, I bet you would like Bishop Burke, and many others.
letter to Reid from a few of the bishops:
“As pastors and teachers, we believe genuine health care reform must protect human life and dignity from conception to natural death, not threaten them, especially for the voiceless and vulnerable. We believe health care legislation must respect the consciences of providers, taxpayers, purchasers of insurance and others, not violate them.”
more http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2010/10-035.shtml
Personally, I don’t want any kind of govt.-run health care because I feel it will be a Trojan Horse for all kinds of evil, down the road.
"The unborn child derives his/her right to liberty at the time of his creation, not after he becomes a citizen of a country."
As it relates to our Republic, to our Declaration of Independence, and the founding philosophy upon which our Constitution's restrictions on government and protections for "the People's" rights is concerned, "Creator-endowed" and, therefore, "inalienable" rights are based on the concept contained in that statement. I believe this point is not adequately stressed by those who advocate "life" in the current debate. Yet, it is at the foundation of our own rights and liberties.
Those who argue for life, should be emphasizing the "liberty" aspect as well. As Jefferson stated emphatically, life and liberty are derived from the Creator "at the same time," and cannot be separated except by being "destroyed." Once Americans allow that concept to be lost, then we lose the foundation of our own liberty.
John F. Kennedy's words should be remembered by Democrats who push another view:
"The world is very different now...and yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe--the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God." - John F. Kennedy
And, if they come from "the hand of God," then how can it be assumed that they are presented by the Creator at the hour and date of a birth certificate?
If the Bishops had spent the last fifty years feeding and teaching their flock the fullness of the Catholic faith they could afford to not sink into the cesspool of secular politics.
**Is it the bishops or the idiots in the Washington office. Big difference. We should be contacting the bishops to clean that particular house before they make any more of a mess.**
Do you have those contact numbers?
I struggle everyday with the same emotions you are going through.
But, I won’t allow man’s many imperfections, be it a priest or a Cardinal...keep me from honoring Christ in His Church.
I’m not lecturing, I’m just saying that it is a constant battle many of us fight...when all is said and done, I feel I must stay in His Church.
When I’m really angry about the Church’s actions in the political realm...I’ll skip Mass and go to Church by myself and pray.
I know it is not the right thing to do...but I don’t feel I can take communion when I’m that angry. It’s just how I deal with the situation.
Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
P.O. Box 070912
Milwaukee, WI 53207-0912
Most Reverend Richard J. Sklba
836 North Broadway
Milwaukee, WI 53207-0912
Most Reverend Rembert G. Weakland OSB
Archbishop Emeritus of Milwaukee
What happened to Bishop Callahan?
Why is Rembert Weakland still listed?
He’s retired.
He’s an embarrassment.
His shenanigans will bankrupt this diocese.
Milwaukee would like to forget him.
I’d assume the contacts would be the same. But it might be best to start some sort of letter writing campaign to express our confusion on the difference between what the USCCB office says and what the church teaches. They just don’t jive.
You are so right. It just doesn’t make sense!
Lord, show us the answer!
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